Ex-Finance Minister Is Chosen to Lead Interim Government as Arab Nations Pledge Billions, While Divisions Widen

CAIRO—A former finance minister was chosen as Egypt's interim premier under a six-month timetable for elections, as the country's emerging post-coup government drew pledges of $8 billion in assistance from Arab supporters, in new attempts to bolster a democratic transition marked so far by divisions and violence.

Hazem el-Beblawi, a 77-year-old economist known as a free-market champion, was named as interim prime minister on Tuesday. The decision came after the appointment of opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei was...